Making Them Complex Characters

and solve their problems by their own. In addition, children have courage to help other even if they have to sacrifice their own selves. Yes . . .” said Ron softly, “it’s the only way . . . I’ve got to be taken.” “NO” Harry and Hermione shouted. “That’s chess” snapped Ron. “You’ve got to make some sacrifices I make my move and she’ll take me — that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry” Rowling, 1998: 283 He has courage and sacrific e himself in order to stop the Sorcerer’s Stone from being taken by Voldemort. Telling a lie can also be done by children. Most people believe that children are innocent, honest and pure. Yet, this novel reveals that children have one of complex characterizations which is lying. This condition is represented in this quotation. Harry was rather quiet as he ate the ice cream Hagrid had bought him chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts. “What’s up?” said Hagrid. “Nothing,” Harry lied. Rowling, 1998: 79 The quotation illustrates that a child can also tell a lie when heshe wants to hide something from adults. They try to cover their feeling and thinking from adults. In addition, children can lie to adults in order to save their friends or prevent things get worse Rowling, 1998. By lying, it demonstrates that children have awareness of their privacy which they do not want to share with adults or children realize that they have done something wrong so they try to avoid punishment by covering the truth. Therefore, children are not really innocent, pure and honest. Another way to make children complex characters can be done by representing them with perceptive personality. In other words, children can understand and notice the situation quickly. They are able to know way to do by this understanding. In addition, they are able to show their own consideration over things in their lives including making a friend. He turned back to Harry. “You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it. Rowling, 1998: 108 A child can understand which is good and bad for them. He has his own standard to choose the one he can make friends with. It shows that they are able to make a judgment and decision by their own. They come to that decision after doing some observations. In the novel, children are represented with determination. By this personality, these children do not fear to face obstacles in front of them when they try to achieve their goal. They focus on their aims and prioritize what they need to do. They even can break the rule if needed. SO WHAT?” Harry shouted. “Don’t you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort’s coming back Haven’t you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won’t be any Hogwarts to get e xpelled from He’ll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts Losing points doesn’t matter anymore, can’t you see? D’you think he’ll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup? If I get caught before can get to the St one, well, I’ll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it’s only dying a bit later than I would have, because I’m never going over to the Dark Side I’m going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me Voldemort killed my parents, remember?” Rowling, 1998: 270 Harry has an ability to prioritize what he should do and owns power to do something as what he believes should be done soon. He has been determined to stop Snape and Voldemort in getting the stone even if he should break the school rule. He does not fear and determine to do what he thinks as the most appropriate thing to do. He also provides some rational reasons behind his action and determination. Another complex characterization found in the novel is revengeful personality. Children can also take revenge when they get bad treatment from the others. This revengeful personality shows that children are able to fight back against unfairness. Children can be active in responding the mistreatment by trying to take control. These children do not take for granted for every mistreatment that they get. Moreover, they try to make those who have done mistreatment aware that those people have done something wrong. Hagrid almost had to drag Harry away from Curses and Counter-curses Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More by Professor Vindictus Viridian. “I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley.” “I’m not sayin’ that’s not a good idea, but yer not ter use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances,” said Hagrid. Rowling: 1998: 80 Harry wants to take a revenge on Dudley who treats him badly. Harry has courage to fight back against unfairness. Harry tries to make Dudley regret as he has given many miserable things in Harry’s life. Harry has to face many difficulties as being his human punching bag Rowling, 1998: 20 and having no friend because of him Rowling, 1998: 30. That is why Harry wants to take revenge on him for his mistreatment. To summarize, by making these children complex characters, children are able to exercise more power in their lives and show their capability. Children can be rebellious, courageous, active, curious, lying, determined, perceptive, and revengeful. They can be who they really are without being standardized.

c. Giving Them Important Positions

In this novel, these four child characters are represented with important positions which make them neither inferior nor vulnerable. They are young people but can do many things in their life. They have capability which makes them important and place them in a higher level compared to adults or other children. Giving children important positions can be done by providing these children with certain capabilities to defeat adults. They are able to have special ability which can stop adults’ wrong doing. Thus, people treat the children differently in a special way. “You-Know-Who killed ’em. An’ then — an’ this is the real myst’ry of the thing — he tried to kill you, too. Wanted ter make a clean job of it, I suppose, or maybe he just liked killin’ by then. But he couldn’t do it. Never wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead? That was no ordinary cut. That’s what yeh get when a powerful, evil curse touches yeh — took care of yer mum an’ dad an’ yer house, even — but it didn’t work on you, an’ that’s why yer famous, Harry. No one ever lived after he decided ter kill ’em, no one except you, an’ he’d killed some o’ the best witches an’ wizards of the age — the McKinnons, the Bones, the Prewetts — an’ you was only a baby, an’ you lived.” Rowling, 1998: 55-56 Other people cannot escape from death when they face Voldemort. In the other words, Voldemort has killed many people including Harry’s parents. On the other hand, Harry is safe and alive. He can defeat him when other adults cannot do that. Representing children with appreciation and acknowledgment can be another form of giving them important positions. By being appreciated, valued and acknowledged, children have confidence to live among the society. They are able to show their capability better rather than those who are underestimated and ignored. First — to Mr. Ronald Weasley . . .” Ron went purple in the face; he looked like a radish with a bad sunburn. “. . . for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty points.” Rowling, 1998: 305 Ron is awarded because he sacrifices himself in playing the giant wizard chess and shows his special capability to win the mat ch against McGonagall’s chess in order to save the stone. He is considered giving a great contribution in saving the stone. That is why Dumbledore gives him 50 points. Furthermore, representing children with an important position can be done by making them play an important role in the family. This novel shows that children are not just young people living under the same roof but they are valuable for the family. They are hoped and appreciated for passing a certain level in their lives. The family members even make a celebration and commotion for their success. “Well, my gran brought me up and she’s a witch,” said Neville, “but the family thought I was all-Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me — he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned — but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced — all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here — they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad.” Rowling, 1998: 125 Neville’s family is happy by knowing that Neville becomes a wizard. Neville is very important for his family. His great uncle even gives him a present to celebrate his new status. That is why they care with Neville’s life. This care and treatment makes a child know that they are special. This child is loved by his family. Children are also placed according to their capability. The placement is important to value and acknowledge children’s ability and skill. Thus, children with special capability and talent can be placed in an important position in their community including family, friends, school and other group. In this novel, this situation is reflected in the following datum. “ This ,” said Wood, “is the Golden Snitch, and it’s the most important ball of the lot. It’s very hard to catch because it’s so fast and difficult to see. It’s the Seeker’s job to catch it. You’ve got to weave in and out of the Chasers, Beaters, Bludgers, and Quaffle to get it before the other team’s Seeker, because whichever Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra hundred and fifty points, so they nearly always win. That’s why Seekers get fouled so much. A game of Quidditch only ends when the Snitch is caught, so it can go on for ages — I think the record is three months, they had to keep bringing on substitutes so the players could get some sleep. Rowling, 1998: 169 Harry joins the Gryffindor’s Quidditch team and is trusted to fill an important position in the team by being a Seeker. The Seeker is able to get 150 points once he or she is able to catch the Golden Snitch during the match. Harry is considered competent to be the seeker for his own house, Gryffindor. In conclusion, by giving them an important position, children have a medium to be acknowledged that they are special and capable to do something by their own. In other words, they can exercise power in their live. Thus, they are no longer in inferior positions.

d. Making Them Capable

Making them capable is another kind of the process of child empowerment found in the novel. Children can be presented with their special strength like inherent capability and will. In this novel, children are presented to be able to take